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Iraq War Critics Blowing With Prevailing Wind Says Former U.S. State and Defense Department Official

Posted on: Thursday, 17 November 2005, 15:00 CST

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The following statement regarding Iraq war critics was issued today by Fred Gedrich, former U.S. State and Defense Department Official:

"Democratic Party leaders have apparently committed themselves to a revisionist, false view of history on Iraq. Former President Bill Clinton, Senator John Kerry, and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid have said the 2003 invasion was a 'big mistake,' the country and the Congress were 'misled' into war, and the administration engaged in a pattern of 'manipulating' pre-war intelligence as it made the case for invading Iraq, respectively. These folks thought differently when their party held power.

"Theirs, and statements of many others, don't square with history, the facts, and ignore solid evidence of a half-dozen U.S. commission investigations.

"In 1998, President Clinton made it U.S. policy, under the Iraq Liberation Act, to depose Saddam Hussein's regime with unanimous Senate, and overwhelming House, support. In 2002, Congress voted overwhelmingly, including Senators Kerry and Reid, to pass the 'Joint Resolution to Authorize the use of United States Armed Forces Against Iraq' which chronicles Saddam's weapons of mass destruction programs, their use, and his crimes against humanity.

"Saddam's regime ranks among the most notorious in history, alongside the likes of Hitler, Stalin and Mao. During his three- decade reign of terror, he launched unprovoked attacks against Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Israel, killing and displacing millions of Muslims in the process, including his own country's citizens. He also used weapons of mass destruction on his enemies, ran a terrorist state, aided and harbored international killers and thugs, and was considered, by all respectable human rights groups, one of the worldbs worst human rights abusers. And for more than 10 years he defied the international community by flouting Non-Proliferation Treaty provisions and refusing to disarm according to surrender terms of the first Gulf War.

"By engaging in revisionist politics and demanding a firm timetable for withdrawing American troops from Iraq, Democrat Party leaders are now resorting to the defeatism Vietnam War Model of another era which plays right into hands of America's terrorist enemies like Bin Laden and Al Zarqawi.

"Global terrorism will not be defeated, in Iraq and elsewhere, by revisionism or weak-kneed politicians in either major party who blow with prevailing winds. Instead, it will be accomplished by strong- willed and consistent people like America's President George W. Bush, Great Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair, and others who recognize the clear and present danger terrorism poses to the Free World. Saddam Hussein was a terrorist and a clear menace to world peace and security. And Iraq, America and the world is safer with him in prison rather than in power. Anyone who thinks otherwise is doing mankind a great disservice."

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Fred Gedrich is a former U.S. State and Defense Department Official and a "War Footing: 10 Steps America Must Take to Prevail in the War for the Free World" (Naval Institute Press, November 2005) contributor.

http://www.usnewswire.com

Source: U.S. Newswire

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